Madonna Is Billboard’s 2016 Woman of the Year

Well, it's about damn time: Madonna, Queen of Pop, will be honored as Billboard's Woman of the Year at the 11th annual Billboard Women in Music ceremony this year.

The official chart organization refers to her record-extending close of the Rebel Heart Tour, her Prince tribute at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards and her "indelible commentary on the 2016 election" as evidence of being a pop culture force this year. Uh...like her Donald Trump piñata, I guess? And her endorsement of Hillary Clinton in the form of a nude selfie? They must have forgot to mention Tears of a Clown...

“With her creative vision, relentless innovation, and dedication to philanthropic causes, she is an inspiration to hundreds of millions of people around the world, all while shattering every career record out there. She is an important feminist on top of that, a one-of-a-kind artist who’s used her influence to change the conversation around women, sexuality and equal rights," chief creative officer Janice Min explains.

The event will be held on December 9 in New York City, and will air on Lifetime on December 12.

Much like Lady Gaga's win last year and Pink's win in 2013, the timing is strangely inconsistent with the artist's promo schedule: shouldn't she have received this recognition last year, when she actually dropped a great album (Rebel Heart, available now on iTunes) and kicked off the tour, as opposed to a largely inactive 2016?

Regardless! It's a celebration. 58 years old and still the very best. Well done, M.